NEW YORK — Toronto FC marched into Yankee Stadium and almost hit one out of the park on Wednesday night.

In the second half of a match against a first-place team in New York City FC, the Reds put together a string of excellent scoring chances — including a missed penalty kick by Alejandro Pozuelo — but just couldn’t bury the winner. In the end, TFC fought to a 1-1 draw against NYCFC, picking up a point against the MLS Eastern Conference leaders on the road, on a hot and humid night.

The draw lifted TFC over the New York Red Bulls into for fourth place the East — the last spot for home-field advantage in the playoffs — tied with D.C. United on 41 points.

“We were there for three,” TFC coach Greg Vanney said. “In the second half, we had some great chances. Obviously a PK, but also some very good looks at goal. We didn’t hit the target on those and (New York goalkeeper) Sean (Johnson) makes a good save on the PK.

“It’s tough, it’s a muggy night, really humid, and I felt our guys down the stretch just had more. We did more to push the game, more to try to get pressure, more to try to go win this thing and it says a lot about where our team’s at right now.”

The Reds (11-10-9) have now gone six straight games without a loss and are steadily climbing up the standings. The tie also snapped a five-game winning streak by NYCFC.

“The guys are confident,” Vanney said. “This is a good time of year to feel that way and we got to keep building on each one of these efforts and each one of these performances.”

Toronto recorded 15 shots against NYCFC compared to 10 by the home team, and held a 5-1 edge with shots on target, though New York held a possession edge at 55%.

“The effort is there and the run is continuing,” TFC’s Nick DeLeon said. “We’re starting to move in the right direction and the right time. We just got to keep building off these performances. We’ve got a tough month here with Wednesday games and weekend games back to back. Everybody’s going to definitely going to play a part.”

The match couldn’t have started worse for TFC. The New Yorkers went up 1-0 in the sixth minute via a free kick by Alexandru Mitrita.

Referee Chris Penso called a foul on Toronto defender Omar Gonzalez which was borderline to say the least.

But in the 40th minute, Pozuelo tied it 1-1, on a penalty kick. It was the Spaniard’s 10th goal of the season, tying him with Jozy Altidore for the team lead. Altidore was fouled in the penalty area.

“I thought that it was extraordinarily soft foul,” Vanney said on the call. “The forward was facing backwards, he turns and he sees that he’s impeded and he drops to the ground and he got the call. It’s a tough call to make three minutes into the game.”

The game ended with the crowd screaming for Penso’s head when he elected not to call a foul on Toronto defender Chris Mavinga, who swiped at New York forward Valentin Castellanos in the box, drawing blood. Castellanos had pulled on Mavinga’s shirt before the two made contact, so no penalty kick was awarded.

The match was a wild one, with both teams getting numerous chances, but with Toronto taking control in the later stages of the match.

The Reds had a glorious chance to take the lead in the 78th minute. Tsubasa Endoh charged down the right side and fed a cross to Altidore in the box. New York defender Ben Sweat slid to intercept it and Penso went to the VAR for a review, with a penalty kick awarded to Toronto when it was determined the ball hit Sweat’s arm. But, Johnson made the save on a Pozuelo free kick by diving to his left.

Shortly after New York’s goal, Altidore picked up a pass from Marky Delgado who then fed it to Nicolas Benezet in front, who went down, giving the Reds a free kick from around the same area as Mitrita’s. Pozuelo launched the shot over the goal.

Benezet, who signed with the Reds in July, had, and created, a number of great chances in the second half.

After New York went ahead in the first half, Altidore seemingly tied it up when he left-footed a shot into the corner in the 36th minute, but it was called back on an off-side.

Two minutes later, Altidore was brought down in the penalty area by NYCFC defender Sebastien Ibeagha on a beautiful set up from midfield by Michael Bradley to Erickson Gallardo at the right wing.

Gallardo crossed it to Altidore. Pozuelo then converted the penalty as Johnson dove the wrong way.

Three minutes later, Gallardo was substituted out of the game for Endoh because of an ankle contusion.

In the 70th minute, New York’s Ronald Matarrita rung a shot off the post via a rocket off his left foot, bringing the crowd to its feet.

Pozuelo missed a shot from the centre of the box a minute later.

In the 87th minute, Benezet was fed a beautiful feed from Altidore juggling the ball in the box, but the Frenchman fired it over the goal.

NYCFC was without five players, including leading scorer Heber. TFC was without Canadians Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea and Liam Fraser because of international duty and Justin Morrow because of injury (quad).